Boley to represent 'Cats on gridiron

Cassville linebacker invited to all-star game

Cassville senior Zack Boley will have one last go on the gridiron Friday at the 15th annual Sertoma Grin Iron Football Classic at JFK Stadium at Parkview High School in Springfield.

The 2016 game features the best 72 seniors and 20 coaches from southwest Missouri. Participants were selected by the Southwest Missouri High School Football Coaches Association.

Boley will represent the Wildcats on the West Team.

"Any time you have a player chosen to represent the school and community in an all-star game, it is a special achievement," said Lance Parnell, Cassville football coach. "Zack has worked his tail off to get this honor."

Fans planning to attend the annual event from this area might recognize several names on the West roster.

The Big 8 Conference secured 10 of the West All-Stars' 32 roster spots, or 31 percent of the team. Including players from the Spring River Valley Conference and Marionville, that number leaps to 19, or 43 percent.

There are eight athletes from Barry and Lawrence counties that will put the football pads on one more time.

Monett sends three athletes to the event: Jonah Paszek, Cameron Witt and John Saunders.

Also from the Big 8 are: Ryan Devore, Joey Dankelson and Natal Bay, from Carl Junction; Skylar Cahill and Gerrit Montgomery, from Aurora; and Blake Butler, from Seneca.

Representing the Spring River Valley Conference is Luz Rangel, from Diamond; and Blake Jeffries, from Jasper.

Marionville's Jacob LaSalle and Waylon Davis round out the area players on the Grin Iron roster.

The West Team's coaching staff is led by Carl Junction Head Coach Doug Buckmaster. The West Team has won 12 of 14 previous contests.

The annual all-star football game has grown into a tradition for area seniors and their families, celebrating the final football game in the athletes' high school careers.

The Grin Iron Classic also serves as a benefit for the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, also known as the Tooth Truck, a mobile dental clinic for at-risk children who lack access to dental care.

Since its inception in 2002, the Tooth Truck has helped more than 18,000 children with dental treatment valued at more than $10.3 million through 43,000 dental appointments.

The Grin Iron Classic will also feature tours of the Tooth Truck, ICON CHEER, the National Guard color guard, a visit from Ronald McDonald, concessions and commemorative programs and T-shirts. Last year's event raised nearly $60,000.

Tickets to the game are $6, with children 6-and-under admitted free. The game is presented by Delta Dental of Missouri and the Heart of the Ozarks Sertoma Club.